Call to Crean to halt strike

The federal Tourism Minister, Joe Hockey, has called on the Opposition Leader, Simon Crean, to use his union links to end Monday's strike by Qantas staff.

Mr Hockey said unions were holding consumers to ransom and the former ACTU president could use his influence to stop the 24-hour strike.

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"They're holding a gun to Australian travellers ... it's union militancy at its worst," Mr Hockey said. "The Labor Party is the political wing of the union movement and, in the national interest, this strike has to be stopped.

"Simon Crean can pick up the phone tomorrow and stop this strike. He can make it plain that the only way to guarantee job security is through negotiation - not militancy."

The Australian Services Union said yesterday that almost 6000 Qantas staff will hold a nationwide strike on Monday, demanding the airline provide job security.

The union said job security had emerged as a sticking point in negotiations with Qantas for a new enterprise bargaining agreement.

The union held a 12-hour stoppage two weeks ago.

Mr Hockey said:

"[The strike] is totally unnecessary. For the unions to demand job security beyond five years is something that's denied almost everybody else in the community. There are no jobs for life anymore."

Mr Hockey has called for aviation to be declared an essential service, effectively outlawing strikes. He said the strike would also harm freight deliveries.